Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-04-23

that the enemy would then starve il
their midst. He also strove TO arous,
vague hopes by announcing that h,
was fastening to join them in defens,
OF their homes and tiresides. but ht
made haste SO slowley rs never to como
within reach of Sherman's army. Al
sherman approached Milledgeville the
d, legislature fired off an act l|evying the
population EN- masse, with q hystericaI
preamble picturing the federal general
a an ogre, and exhorting the people to
die freemen rather than live slaves.
The legislators themselves and the gov.
ernor, with his staff, incontinently fled
as Slocum's column approached the
city. not caring to set the good example
OF dying like freemen. AS the army
reached Milledgville they passed the
pl1ntatioR of Howell Cobb, then in
command of the Georgia militia. and
Sherman expressly oraered everything
on the plantation destroyed that could
not be used for supplies and carried
away. On the 22d of November the
army marched into Milledgeyille with
out opposition, and the first
stage of the march was
accomplished. Cobb's militia and
Wheeler's cavalry, in all not more than
fifteen thousand men, could no nothing
against the steady advance of Sher-
mans veterans. They were brushed
aside like so many insignificant insects.
They might cut Off small detachments
here or there, but they were unavailing
to stop the march.
While at Millcdgville the soldiers
met at the state house and organized a
legislature. The situation of Georgia
and the southern confederacy was the
subject of a very sharp debate. and in
the midst Of a good deal of excitement
and much general amusement they re-
pealed the ordinance of secession. This
was the only case of such repeal that
ever took place.
On the "a h Of November Sherman
continued his march, the town of
Millen, distant southeasterly 100 miles,
being the next objective. This was
reached Dec. 3, and from there the
head OF the army was turned more
southerly for Savannah, As the march
had progressed great numbers Of
negroes had attached themselves to the
columns and accompanied the march,
though this was contrary to the wish of
Sherman, solely on the ground of their
making additional mouths to feed.
The ~able-bodied negroes we're or
ganizcd into working parties,
and employed in repairing the
roads while in the wake . of the
army followed the negro families, en-
during every %privation, cleaning what
they could. and living on the charity of
the soldiers. When the lower and less
fruitful lands were reached the embar-
raSsment and military annoyance of
this cloud of refugees greatly increased.
Losing patience ut the failure of all
orders and eXhortations to these poor
people to stay ut heme, General jeff.
G. Davis, in command of the Fourteenth
corr s, in crossing one Of the unford-
able steams, ordered the pontoon
bridge to be taken up before the refu-
gees who were following the corps had
crossed, so as to get rid Of them if pos
sible. The poor refugees had their
hearts SO set on freedom, and the fear
of the confederate cavalry was so great,
that with wild wailings and cries the
great crowd rushed into the water, and
in spite of all the help the soldiers
could then extend to them, many were
dro wned.
On the 10th of December the army
closed in and around Savannah. Fort
McAtlister was the key to the city, and
was well defended. On the 18th Sher-
man ordered General Hazen with his
division TO storm the fort, which
was successfully done just at night
fall, and General Hardee Immediately
evacuated the city. Savannah had
fallen, our army was in communication
with the fleet and had at last a base of
supplies. 1t was just a month, lacking
two days, after the great march began.
For a full month after the capture of
Savannah IL troops remained ut rest,
occupying the city and fraternizing
with the citizens. The people seemed
to treat the war, so far as Georgia was
concerned, as closed finally. and only
hoped that the South Carolinians would
soon come in for the wages of their
crimes. They were, indeed, to be the
next sufferers.
On the 18th of January. 1865, Sher-
man again set his splendid army in
motion, this time with its face toward
Richmond. The enterprise looked
more hazardous even tnan the march
through Georgia. He was now going
against the strongest confederate ar
mics and generals in the field. But
Sherman well knew what he was about,
and kept straight nOrthward, the army
marching in separate columns as be-
fore, always within supporting dis
tance. BY the 30th Of January Georgia
had been left behind and the invasion of
South Carolina begun, and that state was
now for the first time to suffer the ter
rors of being a seat Of war. Nor can
it be denied that our soldiers looked
with special aversion on this state.
Here, they believed. had been the ORR
gin of all our woes. Here was the hot
bed of secession, and here they deter
mined it should be stamped out for